hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica-第17章
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d from his lips flow gracious words。 All the people look towards him while he settles causes with true judgements： and he； speaking surely； would soon make wise end even of a great quarrel； for therefore are there princes wise in heart； because when the people are being misguided in their assembly； they set right the matter again with ease； persuading them with gentle words。 And when he passes through a gathering； they greet him as a god with gentle reverence； and he is conspicuous amongst the assembled： such is the holy gift of the Muses to men。 For it is through the Muses and far…shooting Apollo that there are singers and harpers upon the earth； but princes are of Zeus； and happy is he whom the Muses love： sweet flows speech from his mouth。 For though a man have sorrow and grief in his newly…troubled soul and live in dread because his heart is distressed； yet； when a singer； the servant of the Muses； chants the glorious deeds of men of old and the blessed gods who inhabit Olympus； at once he forgets his heaviness and remembers not his sorrows at all； but the gifts of the goddesses soon turn him away from these。
（ll。 104…115） Hail； children of Zeus！ Grant lovely song and celebrate the holy race of the deathless gods who are for ever； those that were born of Earth and starry Heaven and gloomy Night and them that briny Sea did rear。 Tell how at the first gods and earth came to be； and rivers； and the boundless sea with its raging swell； and the gleaming stars； and the wide heaven above； and the gods who were born of them； givers of good things； and how they divided their wealth； and how they shared their honours amongst them； and also how at the first they took many…folded Olympus。 These things declare to me from the beginning； ye Muses who dwell in the house of Olympus； and tell me which of them first came to be。
（ll。 116…138） Verily at the first Chaos came to be； but next wide…bosomed Earth； the ever…sure foundations of all （4） the deathless ones who hold the peaks of snowy Olympus； and dim Tartarus in the depth of the wide…pathed Earth； and Eros （Love）； fairest among the deathless gods； who unnerves the limbs and overcomes the mind and wise counsels of all gods and all men within them。 From Chaos came forth Erebus and black Night； but of Night were born Aether （5） and Day； whom she conceived and bare from union in love with Erebus。 And Earth first bare starry Heaven； equal to herself； to cover her on every side； and to be an ever…sure abiding…place for the blessed gods。 And she brought forth long Hills； graceful haunts of the goddess…Nymphs who dwell amongst the glens of the hills。 She bare also the fruitless deep with his raging swell； Pontus； without sweet union of love。 But afterwards she lay with Heaven and bare deep…swirling Oceanus； Coeus and Crius and Hyperion and Iapetus； Theia and Rhea； Themis and Mnemosyne and gold…crowned Phoebe and lovely Tethys。 After them was born Cronos the wily； youngest and most terrible of her children； and he hated his lusty sire。
（ll。 139…146） And again； she bare the Cyclopes； overbearing in spirit； Brontes； and Steropes and stubborn…hearted Arges （6）； who gave Zeus the thunder and made the thunderbolt： in all else they were like the gods； but one eye only was set in the midst of their fore…heads。 And they were surnamed Cyclopes （Orb…eyed） because one orbed eye was set in their foreheads。 Strength and might and craft were in their works。
（ll。 147…163） And again； three other sons were born of Earth and Heaven； great and doughty beyond telling； Cottus and Briareos and Gyes； presumptuous children。 From their shoulders sprang an hundred arms； not to be approached； and each had fifty heads upon his shoulders on their strong limbs； and irresistible was the stubborn strength that was in their great forms。 For of all the children that were born of Earth and Heaven； these were the most terrible； and they were hated by their own father from the first。
And he used to hide them all away in a secret place of Earth so soon as each was born； and would not suffer them to come up into the light： and Heaven rejoiced in his evil doing。 But vast Earth groaned within； being straitened； and she made the element of grey flint and shaped a great sickle； and told her plan to her dear sons。 And she spoke； cheering them； while she was vexed in her dear heart：
（ll。 164…166） ‘My children； gotten of a sinful father； if you will obey me； we should punish the vile outrage of your father； for he first thought of doing shameful things。'
（ll。 167…169） So she said； but fear seized them all； and none of them uttered a word。 But great Cronos the wily took courage and answered his dear mother：
（ll。 170…172） ‘Mother； I will undertake to do this deed； for I reverence not our father of evil name； for he first thought of doing shameful things。'
（ll。 173…175） So he said： and vast Earth rejoiced greatly in spirit； and set and hid him in an ambush； and put in his hands a jagged sickle； and revealed to him the whole plot。
（ll。 176…206） And Heaven came； bringing on night and longing for love； and he lay about Earth spreading himself full upon her （7）。
Then the son from his ambush stretched forth his left hand and in his right took the great long sickle with jagged teeth； and swiftly lopped off his own father's members and cast them away to fall behind him。 And not vainly did they fall from his hand； for all the bloody drops that gushed forth Earth received； and as the seasons moved round she bare the strong Erinyes and the great Giants with gleaming armour； holding long spears in their hands and the Nymphs whom they call Meliae （8） all over the boundless earth。 And so soon as he had cut off the members with flint and cast them from the land into the surging sea； they were swept away over the main a long time： and a white foam spread around them from the immortal flesh； and in it there grew a maiden。 First she drew near holy Cythera； and from there； afterwards； she came to sea…girt Cyprus； and came forth an awful and lovely goddess； and grass grew up about her beneath her shapely feet。 Her gods and men call Aphrodite； and the foam…born goddess and rich…crowned Cytherea； because she grew amid the foam； and Cytherea because she reached Cythera； and Cyprogenes because she was born in billowy Cyprus； and Philommedes （9） because sprang from the members。 And with her went Eros； and comely Desire followed her at her birth at the first and as she went into the assembly of the gods。 This honour she has from the beginning； and this is the portion allotted to her amongst men and undying gods； the whisperings of maidens and smiles and deceits with sweet delight and love and graciousness。
（ll。 207…210） But these sons whom be begot himself great Heaven used to call Titans （Strainers） in reproach； for he said that they strained and did presumptuously a fearful deed； and that vengeance for it would come afterwards。
（ll。 211…225） And Night bare hateful Doom and black Fate and Death； and she bare Sleep and the tribe of Dreams。 And again the goddess murky Night； though she lay with none； bare Blame and painful Woe； and the Hesperides who guard the rich； golden apples and the trees bearing fruit beyond glorious Ocean。 Also she bare the Destinies and ruthless avenging Fates； Clotho and Lachesis and Atropos （10）； who give men at their birth both evil and good to have； and they pursue the transgressions of men and of gods： and these goddesses never cease from their dread anger until they punish the sinner with a sore penalty。 Also deadly Night bare Nemesis （Indignation） to afflict mortal men； and after her； Deceit and Friendship and hateful Age and hard…hearted Strife。
（ll。 226…232） But abhorred Strife bare painful Toil and Forgetfulness and Famine and tearful Sorrows； Fightings also； Battles； Murders； Manslaughters； Quarrels； Lying Words； Disputes； Lawlessness and Ruin； all of one nature； and Oath who most troubles men upon earth when anyone wilfully swears a false oath。
（ll。 233…239） And Sea begat Nereus； the eldest of his children； who is true and lies not： and men call him the Old Man because he is trusty and gentle and does not forget the laws of righteousness； but thinks just and kindly
